key: cord-0975227-01npvwd5
authors: Cordero Jr, Dalmacito A
title: Dogs detect the virus: understanding Christian animal ethics vis-à-vis screening method for COVID-19 in humans
date: 2021-07-13
journal: J Public Health (Oxf)
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab289
sha: cb24e74e15d39745362215ead72f3d6a1381fea1
doc_id: 975227
cord_uid: 01npvwd5

nan

To the editor, In a recent article published in this journal, the authors conducted an interesting study regarding the use of sni ng dogs in detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in axillary sweat samples known as 'Dognosis' (DN). 1 The aim of the study was to test whether the sni er dogs can be successfully trained to identify subjects with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The authors concluded that DN was a highly sensitive and specific screening test for COVID-19, even in early and non-symptomatic stages of the disease, and this can be used for mass screening in humans. In another similar study, dogs were trained for a week to detect saliva or tracheobronchial secretions of SARS-CoV-2infected patients in a randomized, double-blinded and controlled study. Again, the authors' preliminary findings indicated that trained detection dogs can identify respiratory secretion samples from hospitalized and clinically diseased SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals by discriminating between samples from SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and negative controls. 2 This means that the data can provide a reliable screening method for COVID-19. While the result of both studies is indeed beneficial, since it contributes a lot to the availability of reliable, fast and inexpensive testing/screening for COVID-19, a significant question arises concerning the ethical treatment for animals like dogs. While dogs were proven to be capable in detecting such virus through sni ng, there was also an underlying reservation whether it was justifiable to risk animals' lives for the benefit of humans, thus, for the sake of achieving public health.

The genetics and physiology of dogs make them perfectly suited for sni ng. Dogs have so many more genes that code for olfactory ability and many more olfactory nerve cells than humans. Humans have taken advantages of this exquisite sense of smell to hunt, search and detect drugs and explosives and now diseases. 3 The Church teaching stresses that every use of animals for scientific purposes has a specific moral and theological impact and needs to be seriously reconsidered in the light of Christian animal ethics. 4 The 'Catechism' presents clearly that man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation. However, medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives. It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to su er or die needlessly. 5 This view may seem unclear since, on one end, utilization of animals for human benefit is allowed, thus, allowing dogs to detect sickness by sni ng the virus. But this virus can also infect and be transmitted to these animals, thus may cause them to su er and die. As reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a few pets-including cats and dogs-also have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. This happened mostly after the animals were in close contact with people infected with the COVID-19 virus. 6 With this, is it acceptable to sacrifice our animals as long as they serve a good purpose? I propose in this paper three points which can serve as essential guidelines when using dogs to detect COVID-19. First, like humans, these sni ng dogs should also be fully vaccinated for protection against the virus. With this, experts should also try their best to invent vaccines for animal use. Second, experts and veterinarians must also come up with e ective medications to treat the disease in case these dogs are infected with the virus. It follows that the government must provide funding for the establishment of laboratories and facilities for these sick dogs. Lastly, these trained dogs are mostly active due to the reward given. Their handlers/trainers must always ensure that proper phasing for the dog's working time for play and rest are religiously observed. Numerous rewards may not be healthy anymore if the dogs are stressed and overworked.

Humans and non-human animals coexist and undoubtedly, are both of great value. We always say that dogs are a man's best friend. The respect for life for one another, both humans and animals, is a must to uphold the dignity of God's creation. Animals help humans in many ways, such as making a valuable contribution to public health. In return, it is but proper and just for humans to exercise the utmost care for these best friends by not denying them any kind of moral considerations.

New method of screening for COVID-19 disease using sni er dogs and scents from axillary sweat samples

Scent dog identification of samples from COVID-19 patients -a pilot study

The Science of Sni s: Disease Smelling Dogs

Understanding animal research in the light of Christian animal ethics

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Respect for Persons and Their Goods #2415-2418

COVID-19 and Pets: Can Dogs and Cats Get Coronavirus? Mayo Clinic